Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Gulf of Mexico). Red drum. [Sciaenops ocellatus]

Technical Report · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:6530018

Reagan, R E

The red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is an estuarine dependent species. It spends its entire life in estuaries or nearshore coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Red drum spawn from mid-August to November; peak spawning is from mid-September through October. Larvae and juveniles remain in estuaries and adults live along the coast and in passes. Commercial landings in Louisiana (1971-81) ranged from 723,700 to 2,212,500 lb. Texas closed commercial fishing in 1979. In most Gulf States, the sport catch usually exceeds commercial landings. There are few data on population dynamics of the species. Larval and juvenile red drum eat primarily invertebrates; adults feed on fish, shrimp, and crabs. Red drum tolerate a wide range of temperatures (2/sup 0/ to 37.5/sup 0/C) and salinities (0.14 to 50 ppt). 47 refs., 2 figs., 10 tabs.

• Research Organization: Mississippi State Univ., Mississippi State (USA). Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries
• OSTI ID: 6530018
• Report Number(s): FWS/OBS-82-11.36; TR-EL-82-4; ON: TI86900196
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BASELINE ECOLOGY
CARIBBEAN SEA
COASTAL WATERS
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
ESTUARIES
FISH PRODUCTS
FISHERIES
FISHES
FOOD
GULF OF MEXICO
HABITAT
LARVAE
LIFE CYCLE
SEAFOOD
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES